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02/08/2010

Like the dating scene, the job interview process may
start with a rendezvous for coffee at a local cafe. Although the
meeting is held in an informal setting, don't forget that the rules of
interviewing apply. You still must prepare, dress appropriately and
sell yourself. Presenting your case in a public place presents some
challenges, however.

01/07/2010

Across the country, newly minted attorneys are proudly telling their friends
and family that they have successfully passed the bar exam. But at the same
time, they remain unemployed, or at least not satisfactorily employed in a legal
job.

The job market is tighter than ever, and law jobs are not exempt from this
economy. Below are some concrete actions law graduates can take to enhance their
chances for a successful job search even in a difficult economy.

• Consider your target market.

If you have been busily sending out resumes for the past few months, pause to
reassess your strategy. Are you applying to the right types of employers? For
example, large law firms have been among the most affected by this economy, and
they also hire entry-level attorneys on a rigid timetable, which has passed for
the class of 2009. Are you applying to practice areas that are faltering in this
economy -- for example, real estate? Are you applying only in a very competitive
geographic market? If so, it is very likely that you need to consider expanding
your search parameters.

• Tailor your application materials.

Similarly, ask yourself if you have been sending tailored materials, or if
you have one cover letter on which you just change the address each time. It is
a sad but true fact that mass mailings are almost never effective in netting
interviews. Rather than mailing 50 cover letters and resumes each week, take the
time to carefully target a cover letter (and to a lesser extent, a resume) for
each employer.

Research the employer thoroughly. If your letter is in reply to a job
posting, review the listing carefully and try to highlight how your specific
background meets each of the listed criteria. Mailing five to 10 tailored cover
letters is much more effective than mailing 50 mass-produced letters.

• Review your resume and cover letter to make sure they are perfect.

This does not mean just having no typographical errors, although that should
go without saying. Even though you will be tailoring your materials to each
employer to whom you apply, some essentials of your resume and cover letter will
likely remain the same.

• Make your resume dynamic.

Begin each line with a compelling verb such as "researched," "drafted" or
"appeared." Avoid weak beginnings such as "assisted with" or "was responsible
for." Be specific in your descriptions of your experience. Particularly as a
newly minted law graduate, you likely don't have so many items to list that
space is at a true premium.

Create a spreadsheet or chart of some kind for yourself. It need not be
fancy, just something that is user-friendly for you. List the name of the
employer, the date you mailed the resume, the date you followed up with a phone
call, results of that phone call, and follow-up notes.

For example: "Able Baker & Charlie: Resume mailed 10/15/09. Phone call
10/22/09. 'Not hiring at this time but should check back in January.'"

If you are regularly sending out resumes -- and you should be -- it is
essential to keep tabs on to whom you have applied and what the response was.

• Start networking.

Even though many young lawyers consider "networking" to be a dirty word, it
is an essential part of the successful job search. In addition to joining the
state bar association, consider joining local and specialty bar associations,
too.

Do not be a passive member -- attend the association's events. Go to CLE
classes in your area of interest and chat with the attending attorneys. Law
schools and bar associations may offer affordable or even free CLEs.

In addition, schedule some informational interviews with attorneys in your
city and/or practice area of interest. Informational interviews are the hidden
secret to the job search because they arm you with information related to the
particular job you seek and they provide an easy entrée into networking with
practicing attorneys.

• Set a numerical target.

For example, set a goal of mailing five resumes per week, or conducting three
informational interviews per month. For some people, setting aside a certain
period of time specifically for job hunting will be most effective, whether that
be every morning, one afternoon per week or every Saturday.

• Convince the employer you want that job.

Sometimes job seekers become so desperate that they are willing to take any
job under the sun. Employers can sense this, and it is not what they are looking
for in a candidate. You must convince the interviewer that you want to work at
that office, that this is the job you want and are well-equipped to do, rather
than that you are someone who will take any job. No employer wants to be seen as
your back-up plan.

• Contact your law school's career services office.

They are able and eager to assist you, even if you are now living far from
campus. They can assist you by reviewing your resumes and cover letters,
refining a search strategy, conducting a mock interview and putting you in
contact with helpful alumni.

• Guard against depression.

Searching for a job can be a frustrating and even demoralizing experience at
times, and it is essential to maintain your mental health during this time. Try
to do something every day that gives you joy. Exercise helps many people to
maintain their mental equilibrium. If you or your family and friends suspect you
may be becoming depressed, seek professional help.

Above all, be wary of turning to drugs or alcohol; unfortunately, addiction
runs rampant in this profession, and you don't want to face this issue before
you even begin practicing.

12/15/2009

Across the country, newly minted attorneys are proudly telling their friends
and family that they have successfully passed the bar exam. But at the same
time, they remain unemployed, or at least not satisfactorily employed in a legal
job.

The job market is tighter than ever, and law jobs are not exempt from this
economy. Below are some concrete actions law graduates can take to enhance their
chances for a successful job search even in a difficult economy.

• Consider your target market.

If you have been busily sending out resumes for the past few months, pause to
reassess your strategy. Are you applying to the right types of employers? For
example, large law firms have been among the most affected by this economy, and
they also hire entry-level attorneys on a rigid timetable, which has passed for
the class of 2009. Are you applying to practice areas that are faltering in this
economy -- for example, real estate? Are you applying only in a very competitive
geographic market? If so, it is very likely that you need to consider expanding
your search parameters.

• Tailor your application materials.

Similarly, ask yourself if you have been sending tailored materials, or if
you have one cover letter on which you just change the address each time. It is
a sad but true fact that mass mailings are almost never effective in netting
interviews. Rather than mailing 50 cover letters and resumes each week, take the
time to carefully target a cover letter (and to a lesser extent, a resume) for
each employer.

Research the employer thoroughly. If your letter is in reply to a job
posting, review the listing carefully and try to highlight how your specific
background meets each of the listed criteria. Mailing five to 10 tailored cover
letters is much more effective than mailing 50 mass-produced letters.

• Review your resume and cover letter to make sure they are perfect.

This does not mean just having no typographical errors, although that should
go without saying. Even though you will be tailoring your materials to each
employer to whom you apply, some essentials of your resume and cover letter will
likely remain the same.

• Make your resume dynamic.

Begin each line with a compelling verb such as "researched," "drafted" or
"appeared." Avoid weak beginnings such as "assisted with" or "was responsible
for." Be specific in your descriptions of your experience. Particularly as a
newly minted law graduate, you likely don't have so many items to list that
space is at a true premium.

Create a spreadsheet or chart of some kind for yourself. It need not be
fancy, just something that is user-friendly for you. List the name of the
employer, the date you mailed the resume, the date you followed up with a phone
call, results of that phone call, and follow-up notes.

For example: "Able Baker & Charlie: Resume mailed 10/15/09. Phone call
10/22/09. 'Not hiring at this time but should check back in January.'"

If you are regularly sending out resumes -- and you should be -- it is
essential to keep tabs on to whom you have applied and what the response was.

• Start networking.

Even though many young lawyers consider "networking" to be a dirty word, it
is an essential part of the successful job search. In addition to joining the
state bar association, consider joining local and specialty bar associations,
too.

Do not be a passive member -- attend the association's events. Go to CLE
classes in your area of interest and chat with the attending attorneys. Law
schools and bar associations may offer affordable or even free CLEs.

In addition, schedule some informational interviews with attorneys in your
city and/or practice area of interest. Informational interviews are the hidden
secret to the job search because they arm you with information related to the
particular job you seek and they provide an easy entrée into networking with
practicing attorneys.

• Set a numerical target.

For example, set a goal of mailing five resumes per week, or conducting three
informational interviews per month. For some people, setting aside a certain
period of time specifically for job hunting will be most effective, whether that
be every morning, one afternoon per week or every Saturday.

• Convince the employer you want that job.

Sometimes job seekers become so desperate that they are willing to take any
job under the sun. Employers can sense this, and it is not what they are looking
for in a candidate. You must convince the interviewer that you want to work at
that office, that this is the job you want and are well-equipped to do, rather
than that you are someone who will take any job. No employer wants to be seen as
your back-up plan.

• Contact your law school's career services office.

They are able and eager to assist you, even if you are now living far from
campus. They can assist you by reviewing your resumes and cover letters,
refining a search strategy, conducting a mock interview and putting you in
contact with helpful alumni.

• Guard against depression.

Searching for a job can be a frustrating and even demoralizing experience at
times, and it is essential to maintain your mental health during this time. Try
to do something every day that gives you joy. Exercise helps many people to
maintain their mental equilibrium. If you or your family and friends suspect you
may be becoming depressed, seek professional help.

Above all, be wary of turning to drugs or alcohol; unfortunately, addiction
runs rampant in this profession, and you don't want to face this issue before
you even begin practicing.

The North
Carolina Bar Association’s Minorities in the Profession Committee and Young Lawyers
Division Bar Exam Committee announce the Bar
Exam Writing Clinic to individuals sitting for the February North Carolina
Bar Exam.

The focus of the clinic is
to provide bar candidates with the opportunity to get practical information
about the North Carolina Bar Exam.The
Clinic will include a
representative from the North Carolina Board of Examiners who will cover topics
such as how the bar exam questions are selected and scored, and stories from successful
attorneys about surviving and conquering the bar exam. Additionally, participants
will have the opportunity to take part in a portion of the program specifically
directed to the essay questions, which will include tips on how bar candidates
can improve their essay writing skills.

12/09/2009

American Bar Association Fund for Justice and Education Project Fellows Program

During these challenging economic times, this new program has been developed to
provide new lawyers unable to find employment with meaningful volunteer legal
experience by giving them an opportunity to work on FJE public service
projects.

11/23/2009

The Center for Practice Management of the North Carolina Bar Association is proud to presentthe first Start-Up Boot Camp, a one day, non-CLE credit program, dedicated to the practicaldetails of starting a law firm. The program will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 16, from9 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. at the N.C. Bar Center in Cary.

The free program, which is open only to NCBA members on a first-come, first-serve basis, will provide everything from choice of entity to finding your first client to setting up a Web site to choosing the right office space. Learn the nuts and bolts of how to get your firm started on the right foot and how to succeed in this challenging environment.

11/10/2009

UVF, the largest student-run venture fund in the country, would like to invite the students of University of Duke Law
School to the 7th annual University Private Equity Summit (UPES), held January
28th-30th, 2010 in Salt Lake City, Utah. UPES is a unique opportunity to see
inside the world of venture capital. The conference is a fabulous networking
opportunity – a chance to meet professionals and students from across the
country.

This year's conference is $245 per person (by November
30th), which covers the following:

· All conference panels and keynotes -
previous keynote speakers include Tim Draper of Draper Fisher Jurvetson; Bill
Price, Texas Pacific Group; and Randal Quarles, former Undersecretary to the
Treasury and now with the Carlyle Group. This year, Bob Gay of HG Capital, will
be one of our keynotes.

The Summit begins Thursday, January 28th, with an exciting VC panel
and entrepreneur case study. Following these sessions will be our dinner and
keynote speaker at Rice-Eccles Stadium, high above the Salt Lake Valley. The
conference continues Friday, January 29th, with panel discussions containing
successful entrepreneurs and private equity professionals from buyout to venture
capitalists. We will spend Saturday, January 30th, skiing and snowboarding in
nearby Park City. For those who do not ski, transportation will be provided to
the world famous Sundance Film Festival where we can provide optional tickets to
a festival film for an additional cost of $10 (tickets are limited and are on a
first come, first serve basis).

The event is limited to 8 attendees per
university, and the Summit fee increases to $325 per person after November 30th
2009, so we encourage you to register quickly. We do not cover air travel or
transportation to and from Salt Lake International Airport. However, local
transportation options are inexpensive – details and recommendations will be
provided later. Sleeping arrangements are based on double occupancy. If a
private room is needed, an additional fee will be charged.

There will be
absolutely no refunds after December 7th, 2009. If someone cannot attend, they
may exchange their place with another attendee on the waiting list or with
someone from their university. Exchanges can occur between December 7th and
December 21st. After these dates, there will be no refunds and no exchanges.